Wall form and clamping means therefor



1955 A. ARRlGHlNi 2,727,294

WALL FORM AND CLAMPING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 24, 1951 INVENTOR. ARTIL A-RRIGHINI United States Patent Office 2,727,294 F'atented Dec. 20, 1955 2,727 ,294 WALL FORM AND CLAMZING NIEANS THEREFOR Arfil Arrighini, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Rocwall Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application September 24, 1951, Serial No. 247,939 1 Claim. (Cl. 25131) This invention relates to prefabricated collapsible Wall forms of the type employed in castin concrete or a moldable composition material to form building walls.

Wall forms used for the above purpose ordinarily comprise laterally spaced walls defining therebetween a space for receiving the material from which the building wall is to be formed; and each wall of the form is usually composed of a plurality of separable wall sections supported in edge to edge relationship. The Width of the space between the walls of the form determines the thickness of the building wall; and the inner surfaces of the walls of the form must be smooth and uninterrupted. Hence it is important to not only hold the walls of the form in predetermined spaced relationship during the pouring operation, but to also hold adjacent sections of each wall in alignment or in ed e to edge relationship.

With the above in view, it is an object of this invention to provide a clamping device which is constructed to effectively hold the walls of the form in proper lateral spaced relationship, and to also secure adjacent sections or" both walls in alignment during the pouring operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a single clamping device which not only performs both the above functions, but in addition, is composed of relatively few simple parts capable of being inexpensively produced and readily installed.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a collapsible prefabricated wall form embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view partly in section of the clamping device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the clamping device showing the same attached to the opposed walls of the form; and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The numeral 19 in Figure l of the drawing designates a portion of a collapsible prefabricated form especially adapted for use in casting building walls of the type formed of concrete or some other moldable composition material. More specifically the form comprises laterally spaced walls 11, and each wall is composed of a plurality of sections 12 positioned in alignment or in edge to edge relationship.

Each wall section 12 comprises a panel 13 and a suitable frame 14, secured to the outer side of the panel for reinforcing the latter. When the wall sections 12 are installed, the panels 13 provide continuous uninterrupted inner surfaces on the walls 11, so that the composition material poured into the space between the Walls 11 ultimately form a building wall having smooth exterior surfaces.

In accordance with the present invention the walls 11 are effectively held in proper lateral spaced relationship,

7 having and the sections 12 of each Wall 11 are secured in edge to edge relationship by clamping devices 15. Although only one clamping device 15 is shown in detail on the drawing, nevertheless it is to be understood that a single clamping device is provided in the region of each separable joint of the form 10. Inasmuch as all of the clamping devices employed are identical in construction, only one need be shown and described in detail.

The clamping device 15 comprises a tie bar 16 and clamping means 17 respectively supported at opposite ends of the tie bar. The tie bar is in the form of a substantially flat strip of metal having a length approximating the width of the form 10, so that when it is extended transversely of the form 16, the opposite ends respectively seat on the top surfaces of the walls 11 of the form.

The clamping means 17 at opposite ends of the tie bar 1-6 includes a pair of stops 18 secured to the underside of the bar 16 in spaced relationship longitudinally of the bar. The stops 18 are in the form of angle bars 19 welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the tie bar 16 and having depending flanges 23. It will be understood that the stops or angle bars extend transversely of the tie bar 16, and the distance between the outer surfaces of the flanges 20 approximates the thickness of the building wall to be formed.

The purpose of the stops 18 is to relatively position the sections 12 of each wall 11, and to hold the walls 11 against inward movement relative to one another. in order to secure adjacent edges of the sections 12 of the walls 11 against the stops 13, the clamping means 17 embodies a pair of members 21'respectively positioned at the outer ends of the tie bar 16in direct opposed relationship to the stops 18. The members 21 are also in the form of angle bars which extend generally parallel to the stops 18 and have depending flanges 22 respectively positioned to engage the outer sides of the sections 12 of the walls 11. The other flanges 23 on the members 21 project outwardly from the flanges 22 and serve as anchorage means for vertical plates 24. The bottom edges of the plates 24 are respectively welded or otherwise fixed to the flanges 23 intermediate the ends of the latter to provide a unitary assembly.

The plates 24 have inwardly projecting extensions 25 of reduced width, and these extensions overlie opposite ends of the tie bar 16 in the manner shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. As will be presently described, the extensions 25 are supported on the tie bar 16 to enable sliding movement of the flanges 22 in directions toward and away from the stops 18.

Secured to the top of the tie bar 16 at opposite ends of the latter are brackets 26. The brackets 26 have portions which extend lengthwise of the tie bar 16 and are substantially of inverted U-shape in cross section to respectively slidably receive the extensions 25 on the plates 24. The opposed vertical walls 27 of the U-shaped portions have aligned slots 28 therethrough which extend in the direction of length of the tie bar 16 and the extensions 25 have similar slots 29 therethrough which register with the slots 28 in the innermost positions of the member 21 relative to the stops 18.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, a pair of stakes 38 respectively extend through the slots 28 and 29. The outer edges 31 of the stakes 30 extend substantially perpendicular to the tie bar 16 for sliding contact with the adjacent ends of the slots 28, and the inner edges 32 of the stakes are tapered in the direction shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. The edges 32 on the stakes 30 respectively engage the adjacent inner ends of the slots 29, and are tapered in such a direction that when the stakes are driven into position, the members 21 are forcibly moved inwardly toward the stops 18.

outersides, of the laterally During use the clamping device is supported on he. form, the manner indise cd. in. F hts 1 of, the drawing, wherein the flanges on the stops 18 not only respectively engage the inner surfaces of the laterally spaced, walls 11, but in addition, bridge the. joints be-. tween adjacent edges. of the. wall sections. 1:2 The flanges 22 on the member 21 respectively engage the spaced walls 11 and also. bridge the joints between adjacent wall sections 12 It follows from the. above that when the stakes 30 are driven or forcibly moved into position, the. flanges 22 on the member 21 are forcibly cammed inwardly toward the stops 18, and. thereby not only locate the walls 11 of the form in proper lateral spaced relationship, but in addition, effectively hold the adjacent sections, 12, of the. walls in alignment; so. thatthe panels 13: provide smooth. continuous, surfaces at the inner sides of the walls 11. Hence the clamping device 15 performs, a dual function, and is of a nature to enable readily assembling and dis.-

, assembling the same with minimum effort on the part of the user.

What I claim as my invention is:

The combination with a collapsible wall form comprising laterally spaced parallel walls each composed of separable wall sections positioned in. edge to edge relationship, of clamping means for holding said walls in predetermined laterally spaced relationship and also for holding the opposed edges of adjacent wall sections of each. wall in alignment, said clamping means comprising an elongated bar extending at right angles to said walls and having the opposite end portions respectively seated upon the tops of the walls in overlying relation to thejoints between adjacent wall sections, a pair of stops depending from said bar in spaced relation lengthwise. of said bar a distance approximating the specified spacing between the. inner sides of the walls, said stops having flat bearing surfaces facing away from each other and disposed at right angles to the direction of length of said bar and positioned to engage the inner sides of tioned to. engage the outer sides of the respective walls and being elongated sufiiciently to bridge the joint between said wall sections, said bar having a pair of laterally spaced plates at each end portion of said. bar projecting upwardly therefrom, the plates of each pair having opposed parallel surfaces cooperating to define a slot elongated in the direction of .length of said bar, said clamping members having extensions thereon elongated in the direction of length of said barand respectively closely received in said slots for sliding movement in. the direction of length of said bar, the plates of each pair having aligned openings and the extensions. also having openings respectively registrable with the.

openings of said plates, and stakes respectively projecting through the openings in said plates and extensions and having at least one longitudinal edge tapered in a direction to engage the adjacent sides of the openings in said extensions to cam said clamping members toward said.

stops and into firm clamping engagement with the outer sides of adjacent wall sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 733,396 Jarvis July 14, 1903 1,236,824 Davis Aug. 14, 19 17 1,270,793 Davidson July 2, 1918' 2,095,714 Pinaud et a1. Oct. 12, 1937 2,375,648 Hamilton May 8,1945 2,526,529 Arrighini'et a1. Oct. 17, 1950 2,535,277 Fama Dec. 26, 19,50 

